FIFE Site-Averaged Gravimetric Soil Moisture: 1987-1989

Site Averaged Gravimetric Soil Moisture Data from the 1987-1989 FIFE experiment provides daily averaged soil moisture measurements from multiple field sites. The dataset contains data from May 20, 1987, through August 12, 1989, with samples averaged first by site and then by day. It supports research on land-atmosphere interactions and soil hydrology.

Use Cases

• Validating satellite-derived soil moisture estimates based on in-situ ground measurements.
• Analyzing temporal soil moisture trends during a multi-year field campaign.
• Calibrating or testing hydrological and land surface models using site-averaged field data.
• Studying the relationship between soil water content and atmospheric processes in a grassland ecosystem.

Strengths

• Provides a multi-year temporal record from May 20, 1987, to August 12, 1989.
• Data is processed and averaged at the site and daily level, reducing noise from individual samples.
• Originates from a well-known NASA field experiment (FIFE), indicating a structured collection methodology.

Limitations

• Column names and specific data structure are unknown, limiting immediate analysis.
• Metadata completeness is low: row counts, file sizes, and author information are not provided.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026 vs. 1989) across platforms create uncertainty about metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Field measurements (gravimetric soil moisture) collected during the FIFE experiment, averaged by site and then by day.

Time Range

May 20, 1987 - August 12, 1989

Freshness

Last updated dates conflict: one source lists 2026-04-09, another lists 1989-08-12.

Geography

FIFE experiment site location(s), specific region not detailed in provided metadata.